ReturnBangalore: Raw silk production in India increased by 6.7% in 2009-10 despite a slump in production of other agricultural crops because of inadequate rains and change in climatic conditions.
According to the government-owned Central Silk Board (CSB), the apex body of the Indian silk industry, overall raw silk production in 2009-10 is estimated to be in the range of 19,600 tonne, up from 18,370 tonne recorded in the previous year. The area covered under mulberry cultivation increased by 5.3% in 2009-10 to 1.87 lakh hectares from 1.78 lakh hectares last year.
Similarly, cross breed raw silk production shot up to 15,149 tonne from 14,360 tonne while bivoltine raw silk production declined by 6.7% to 1,166 tonne from 1,250 tonne. Total mulberry raw silk production is estimated at 16,315 tonne during the fiscal that ended in March 2010.
Karnataka continues to top the list of leading silk producing states with 7,360 tonne, accounting for a 45.11% of the country’s total production. Andhra Pradesh ranked second with 5,119 tonne, which is 31.37% of total silk output.
West Bengal stays in the third place with production of 1,865 tonne (11.43%) followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,233 tonne (7.56%).
On the Vanya front, there is much to rejoice. The tasar and eri sectors have registered 19.4% and 20.7% growth, respectively, when compared to the previous year. Tasar silk production climbed to 720 tonne from 603 tonne while eri silk output jumped to 2,460 tonne from 2,038 tonne.
The total vanya silk production at 3,285 tonne in 2009-10 has surpassed the 11th Five Year Plan target of 3,000 tonne.
Much of this success can be attributed to the successful adoption of new concepts of organised and timely production and supply of quality seeds through private agencies, adopted seed rearers and formation of self-help groups, the CSB report has claimed.
Jharkhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nagaland are among the best performing states so far as silk products are concerned.
Production of muga silk, however, registered a negative growth of about 11.5% to reach 105 tonne, primarily due to disease and prolonged summer with high temperature and low humidity that impacted seed production and supply.
The research and extension initiatives already taken up by the CSB and state departments of sericulture in this regard are expected to yield results in the next crop season.
With increase in the raw silk production, the cumulative employment generation is expected...
